John synnott



'diritto' ftent gettoni iffirr'.

WRITING APPARATUS FOB. THE BLIND.

dgc dpbnle tuant tu in tigen Status Quart mit mating put at tige tame.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CON CERN Bc it known that I, JOHN SYNNOTT, of the city ofASan Francisco, San Francisco county, State ot' California, have invented a new and improved Machine to Enable the Blind .to Write; and I da hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertaius to make and use my said invention without `further invention or experiment.

The nature of my invention is to provide a. machine, so as to enable that class of persons who have become prematurely blind o1' near-sighted to write letters and direct them, as well as to perform all correspondence and manuscript writing. Y

In order to accomplish this object, I employ an inclined tablet -or desk, having an inclined drawer for stationery. On this tablet is placed a hinged frame, upon the sides of which are placed slots about one-half of an inch apart, in which are placed 'two rods or bars, the upper one of which acts as a guide to obtain the width of the line, and is curved at beth ends. Upon the lower bar or rod are placed two blocks, one of which ts closely upon it, and is for the purpose of a measure; the other one acts as a guide, and moves easily along the bar. Pins are placed in one corner ofthe tablet for the purpose of a guide to the sheet of paper and envelope.

Inordorto more fully illustrate and describe my invention, reference ishad to the accompanyingdrawings, and the letters marked thereon, of wlxich-,

Figure 1 is a perspective with cover open'.

Figure 2 is a plan.

A is the bottom ofthe desk; B'is a frame which is hinged, and opensfor the purpose of placing the paper on the face of the inclined tablet or top ofthe deskl), and is closed down on the sheet, and held in place by'a hook and eye. E is the upper guide-bar, usually placed in the slots a a, with the bend up; this acts as a stop or guide for the upwardstroke of the pen. u The lower'bar F is placed in the slots aa, next below the bar E, and the hand or fingers may rest upon it. On this bar is also placed the sliding block G, and adjustable block H. The block II is for the purpose of measuring distance orrindicate the 'placeto commence an' epistle or paragraph, and has a pin, I, which turns from right to left, resting in a groove on the top of. the block, and when the pin is in a right horizontal position, it projectsfrom the block three-eighths of an inch, making the block and pin seven-eighths of an inch in length, but when the pin is turned t the left, it projects one-half inch, which, with the block, 'gives one inch space, the pin not being placed in the centre. This block lits molcclosely to the bar, and is not so easily removed as the block G; consequently, if the'block G is removed by accident, the block H will usually be in place. The block Gallus a projection, c, upward toward the bar E, anda lug, d, placed near the end at right angles. At the end of this lug is placed the pen when the operator commences to write, the block being followed, as the sentence progresses, by the left hand of the writer, and is moved against 'the pen when the word is completed, when vthe pen is lowered suiciently to let the lug d slip by, thus giving space between thc words, until the line is inishod, when the bars are cach lowered one notch, vand a newline commenced. Pins I) b Z2 are placed Vupon the tablet, in one corner, for thc upper endv of the sheet, as a guide forA adjusting it before commencing ,to write also for direct-ing the outside of the letter or envelope, which is accomplished by the use of the bars and blocks above described, and the upper bar E protects the line already written. The whole machine may be closed and locked by means of the cover C.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The tablet with pins b b, and the hinged f'ramc B with notches or slots a. a, substantially as described for thc purpose set forth.

2. The bars E F, and the measuring-block II with the pinl, together with the following-block G, with its projections 0,' and lug d, substantially as and for the purposes described In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN sYNNo'm. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, Jnssn BnowN. 

